The Alt-right Spews Hatred of Jews. The Alt-left: Hatred of Israel

[shira]

As America becomes aware of the alt-right, it should also get acquainted with its mirror image: the alt-left, a loose association of activists with one unifying object of hate: Israel.

The “alt-right” is everywhere on Twitter. It consists of champions of nativism who, resentful over the receding dominance of white men in American society, tout the virtues of “white nationalism.” The movement has no coherent economic plans, its foreign policy is driven by fear of immigrants and Muslims, and its anti-Semitism is shocking. But even as America becomes aware of the alt-right, it should also get acquainted with its mirror image: the alt-left. Much like the alt-right, the alt-left is not clearly defined. Its approach to economic policy, foreign relations, and social issues is generally in tune with the mainstream left, with one major distinction – Israel.

For while the left champions democracy and self-determination, the alt-left has a peculiar animus toward democratic Israel, accusing it of the “genocide” of the Palestinian people. And while the left celebrates love between any two people, regardless of gender, the alt-left, strangely, looks at Tel Aviv’s thriving gay culture and sees nothing but a rainbow fig leaf behind which Israel hides its true maliciousness. As the left urges France to respect the religious practices of its Muslim citizens, the alt-left looks at Israel’s beaches, filled with Muslim, Jewish, and Christian women—in burkinis, bikinis, and everything in between—and sees apartheid.

The left sees clearly that the terrorists of Hamas and Hezbollah are horrific abusers of human rights. But the alt-left views them as principled freedom fighters, struggling against Israeli oppression. The left believes that climate change is a singular threat to world order and lauds Israel for its groundbreaking work in water conservation and energy reduction. The alt-left explains that the Nazis, too, made important scientific advances. The left makes common cause with the Israeli left, championing its causes and honoring its heroes. To the alt-left, though, an Israeli is an Israeli (as long as she is Jewish), and no matter her politics, she is morally wanting. The left looks at the chaos of the Middle East and is glad that the U.S. has an ally that shares its democratic values. But the alt-left looks at Israel’s defensive capabilities, sees a bloodthirsty war machine, and demands that America cut off foreign aid.

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